How to get through challenging art problems.

Often in illustration you come across a very complex visual problem. In this case I am working on developing the visual for the Wampahoofus, a Vermont cryptid that is a mix between a hog and a deer with one side of its legs taller than the other. This helps it easily walk around a mountain. The challenge I presented myself is how to depict it walking on level ground.

The solution, draw and test things out in sketches. This is only one page. I am getting closer to something I like, but I am not there yet.

This kind of exploration is invaluable to a strong visual concept and drawing.

The Benefits of Daily Practice Part II: Discovering Your Personal Style

For years I struggled with my art. I saw so many people that I thought were better artists than me. I wanted to draw like so and so, or paint like someone else. Try as I might, I could never rise to their ability. A few years after graduating from college, I started my MA in Illustration at Syracuse University. Here I was able to study under some great illustrators like Murray Tinkelman (1933-2016), C.F. Payne, and Bunny Carter. I learned so much there, but the work I produced was not good. 

Around 7 years later, I applied for the MFA program at The University of Hartford, Hartford Art School. I was again able to study under the direction of Murray. One day while working, He came by my desk, looked at my work, and said “Barclay, what happened? The work you were doing at Syracuse was horrible. This stuff is good!” 

I responded that I had been reflecting on the work I do in my sketchbook and realized that this was what and how I enjoyed drawing. 

He responded “Well keep it up!”

I had been keeping a sketch book and drawing in it regularly since I graduated from high school. I drew what I wanted to draw in it and how I felt like drawing. But for whatever reason, until that point at Hartford, I didn’t look at what was in my sketchbook as anything of value. I thought everyone expected me to be like other artists – to draw their way. Kimon Nicolades in his book, The Natural Way to Draw said “There is only one right way to draw and that is a perfectly natural way.” I had found my natural way to draw.

Drawing daily, drawing without pressure from the outside world, and drawing free of criticism and judgement can help you discover your own artistic voice and help you realize your own right way to draw and create art. 

I am still influenced by other’s work. I still strive to be better, but now I learn from other artists and apply it to the right way to draw – my way to draw. I have years of sketchbooks and a few incredible instructors that have allowed me the freedom to recognize this.

If you are interested in The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolades it is a wonderful book that was recommended to me by a wonderful painter and friend Frank Magleby (1928-2013) you can get it here.

For more information on the University of Hartford, Hartford Art school's limited residency Illustration MFA you can visit here.

You can also see Murray Tinkelman, and C.F. Payne illustrations.

More Summer Sketching: At the Beach

A small sketch form our family trip to Hampton Beach to see the Sand Sculptures. I love drawing people. We are all so different.

A sketch from a few weeks ago while I was at young men’s camp. I will be working on a color version soon. I am doing pretty well with drawing daily. Last week got a bit difficult with other responsibilities.

More trees

More practicing drawing trees. I wanted to try to capture the apple blossoms on our small tree in our yard.

For the summer I have set a goal to draw more.

Creative Challenges

Yesterday, a student of mine turned in a creative game she created for a class assignment. It’s called “Noun Verb Noun.” Today, during my free draw time, I created a page of drawings inspired by bag joins feather. 

One of the ideas I have been trying to instill in my students is the idea of having a project mean more than the assignment. Make it something others will want and or use. This is a great example of someone being creative and using their art for a product. They went beyond the assignment and made it personal and potentially something that can help them make a living. 

#nvucreates #thisisnorth #discovernorth #northernvermontuniversity#nvu @nvu_lyndon #inspiringstudents #proudteacher

A few Pages from my new sketch book!

I spent Saturday at a youth conference and took some time to draw the people that I saw. I am working on capturing peoples likeness.

Finishing one Sketchbook and Looking Forward to Starting a New One

Finished the last page of my latest sketchbook with a new favorite bird, the Guinea Fowl. I love the small head and the large body of this bird. 

I have enjoyed focusing on a specific animal a day lately. This allows me to focus on a page at a time with a clear end in mind. It is relaxing and rewarding.

I’ll be starting a new sketchbook latter today!

More Sketches

Spent the morning practicing drawing Eastern Painted Turtles, the Vermont State Reptile as part of my State animal series. So many projects on my mind. So many wonderful creatures to draw!

#paintedturtle #vermont #vermontstatereptile #practice #drawing #turtle

Drawing Practice

I am working on a personal project and spent a few hours practicing drawing blue-footed Boobies today. The more I draw, the more I realize the importance of these preliminary drawings. As I work on these, I find the final image is stronger. I come up with stronger ideas and compositions.

You just can't rush things and have quality work. It may be good, but there is so much more richness to the final piece when you put the time up front.

Town Meeting Day

Every first Tuesday f the year we have Town Meeting day, where the residents of the Township of Lyndon Vermont can come to vote on budgets and other issues. I have come to love this day. I love seeing people involved in the government. I love hearing the discussions and the arguments. I love the sense of community. I love drawing the people present.

A New Project

I started preliminary studies for my next project. The book is set in Cambodia and will be featuring elephants as the main characters. As part of the process of designing the characters, I am studying how to draw realistic elephants first. Even though I have done many many studies of elephants in the past, I still feel this is necessary. Even though I have drawn numerous elephants in the past, I am consistently amazed at the new aspects of the elephant that I see.

Summer Sketching Softball

Summer is a wonderful time to sketch. As I have mentioned before, I try to always have my sketch book with me. This is my youngest son up to bat.

Sketching Open Mic Night at the Fusion Grill

Last Friday Night I had the wonderful opportunity to watch and listen to a group of Lyndon State College's Music and Business Industry students perform at the Fusion Grill. It was a joyful evening listening to my good friend Derek Campbell perform with his students. I marveled at the incredible musicians we have at Lyndon. I love working here at Lyndon. I love being surrounded by so many great students. The food was great too.

Sketches from Vermont

Yesterday my sketching class spent the day in East Burke Vermont and Lyndonville. These are a few of the sketches I did while there. The top is the Congregational Church, the middle is the River Garden Cafe (a favorite place for me and Julia to eat that is now closed) and the Country Store in East Burke. 

I find that as I drive around now I am seeing things I want to draw. This is the start of that. I love sketching on location. It is o peaceful.

Bow Tie Guy of the Week-Wolpertinger

Wolpertinger (wōl pər tiNG ər)

A mythological winged rabbit with horns and fangs that inhabits the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany. This is the third part of my rabbit series.

I work on these for a number of reasons. Yes, I log bow ties, but it is also a quick way for me to practice drawing different things and explore use of color. I also use these drawings as part of my personal brand. They appear on my business cards and on my correspondence with potential clients.

I also have many wonderful competing demands on my time. As much as I love to draw, my family, faith, and students, and others take precedence. working on these allows me to better dedicate the time I need to others and still draw on a regular basis. When I do have time to work on a more complete illustration I have not let my drawing skills slide because I am still drawing a little on a daily basis. This Bow Tie Guy project has been a great way to keep my drawing skills up.

Island of Poros

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to take a group of students to Italy and Greece to sketch. I love drawing on-sight. I love the immediacy of it and the energy of the drawings. Not only was I impressed with how well the students took to drawing like this, I was grateful for the opportunity to do many sketches myself. I love both countries. I was inspired by almost every nook and cranny of the places we visited. I look forward to the opportunity to go again in the future.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting what I drew. I will also be adding a little bit of color to some of the drawings.

This drawing was from a very brief visit to the Island of Poros just of the coast of mainland Greece. 

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Frog-Rex (fräg-reks)

One of the wonderful outcomes of my 100 Bow Ties in 100 days or less project was not only the time I set aside to draw, but also the ideas that came out of it. I found that in become more familiar with drawing many different animals the easier it is to mix them up and be creative. The Frog-Rex is a result of that understanding. He just showed up in my sketchbook one day.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Moose (moōs)

I am always amazed at how big and awkward these guys are. Years ago I was driving on Rt. 114 in Vermont and a bull moose came out on the road from the left. I was in my Geo Metro at the time and I swear I could have driven underneath it and not get a scratch.

I wasn't happy with my previous moose. so I spent a great deal of time researching and drawing moose over and over. I keep coming back to what I learned in my MFA with Bunny Carter and Denis Nolan. Draw it a hundred times and then you can draw it.

101 Bow Ties in 100 days More or Less

Dalmatian (dalˈmā sh ən)

To this point I have refrained from drawing dogs. They, like cats, are too common. I prefer the odd and the unique, but when Julia suggested I do this I couldn't resist.

I have recently begun reading and studying Richard Williams book, The Animators Survival Kit, and it has reminded me again the need to be an expert drawer. It is a wonderful book for any artist. In just the first chapter, I realize I have more to improve upon. Here is to a year of drawing.

-99 to go.